Essential news from around the world...
Swissotel to open in Moscow
Raffles International has signed an agreement with developer JSC Moskva Krasny Holmy to manage a deluxe 235-bedroom hotel under the Swissotel brand name. It will be named the Swissotel Riverside Towers, Moscow, and is due to open in May 2005.
Dubai resort to double in size
Kerzner International, the developer and operator of luxury hotels and resorts, is to add an extra 800 bedrooms to Atlantis, The Palm, its planned 1,200-bedroom resort in Dubai. The extra capacity is designed to cash in on the strength of Dubai's tourist industry. Building work is expected to start in 2005 finish in 2007
Radisson increases its numbers
Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts has agreed to manage the Radisson SAS Palace Hotel in Macedonia. The 140-bedroom hotel, costing €25m (£13.6m), is due to open in March 2006 in the city of Ohrid.
Four Seasons’ new addition
Four Seasons is opening its first property in Hungary in the historic Gresham Palace on the banks of the Danube River. The 179-bedroom hotel has completed a $110m restoration and now includes a spa and fitness centre, two restaurants, a bar and lounge.
Revamp for Hilton Australia
Hilton International is to invest more than A$250m (£95.6m) over three years to upgrade its Australian hotels, including a A$200m (£76.5m) refurbishment of the Hilton Sydney. It is also building a Hilton Worldwide Resort and Spa in the vineyard region of Western Australia, due to open by 2007.
Highland buys four from Wyndham
Real estate investment trust Highland Hospitality Corporation is to acquire four hotels from Wyndham International for $227m (£124m). The hotels, which have 1,687 bedrooms between them, are in Parsippany, New Jersey, Atlanta, Georgia, Hauppauge, Long Island, and Boston, Massachusetts.
by Amy McConnon
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